Getting to Know Our New Board Members Terry Atchley has served on the Agriculture Committee, the Trade Show Com-
mittee, and has worked quietly behind the scenes on any task that he has been asked to help with. He has been an active contributor to the small rural community of Wauchula for
many years. After a career in the Phosphate Industry and many years of successful management positions in the private sector, he became a small business owner. In 2008 he opened the popular Italian Restaurant Giovanni’s on Main. Continuing his desire to serve the community he accepted the position of City Manager of the City of Wau- chula in 2011. In addition to his civic endeavors, Terry has dedicated 13 years to the Hardee County Fair in many capacities and is proud to have the opportunity to contin- ue to serve as the president for the 5th consecutive year. Terry has served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Hardee County Rotary
Club and Treasurer of Wauchula Kiwanis. Terry and his wife Filomena, a teacher at Hardee Senior High School, are the parents
of Julian, 23, a student at Warner University and Thomas, 18, a senior at Hardee Sen- ior High School.
Rita De Mier has been active on many committees in the Federation including
the newsletter and lends her creativity to the cover of our Annual Directory and all of our convention signage. Originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, Rita has lived in Florida for the past 17
years, 16 of those in Boca Raton. She received a bachelor’s degree in Communications as well as a master’s degree in Marketing & Advertising. With more than 25 years of experience in advertising and graphic design, she worked as Creative Director at Mancini Enterprises Information Technology, where she acquired experience in online marketing, web design and development. She is currently the Director of Marketing at the South Florida Fair in West Palm Beach, where she’s been for 13 years and was vot- ed by her peers Employee of the Year in 2007. She served on the Board of the Florida Festivals and Events Association, where she now volunteers on the Marketing Com- mittee. Rita is currently serving on the Board of The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County. She enjoys riding her Harley, the beach, golfing, and reading. Rita currently resides in Boca Raton with her husband Chris.
Jim Ward has served on the Federation Board in the past, from 2006-14. He has
been chairman of the Trade Show off and on for several years. When not chairman he served in an advisory capacity. He has also chaired the door prize committee, the hos- pitality committee and been a member of several others including co-chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee and served as a judge for the duration of the program. Jim won the Membership Award in 2008 for recruiting the most new members for the Federation. Jim started volunteering at the Pasco County Fair in 1980 when the Minister of Mu-
sic at his church (First Baptist Church of Dade City) was on the board of directors and would get the guys in the Youth Choir to help line up the parade and then get them to volunteer at the Fair. In 1985 Harold Samples, then President and general manager in- vited Jim to run for a board position. As he and Jim walked down the hall going to the board meeting where he was to be voted on, he told Jim he wanted him to chair the Annual Fair and Programming,
it’s been 31 years and Jim is still there.
Jim is a High School Varsity Football Coach, involved in Kiwanis, and likes to hunt and attend Florida Gator Sporting events.
Jim Ward Pasco County Fair 36 FAIRCRACKER-SUMMER 2016 Terry Atchley Hardee County Fair
Rita DeMier South Florida Fair
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